Is Praying Fajr During Sunrise Valid?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I recently found out that fajr would be nullified if prayed whilst sunrise occurs. I didn’t know this and previously had a habit of doing this all the time. Do I have to make them up or should I just not repeat this in the future?

Answer

I pray you are well.

Yes, the time for the fajr prayer ends at sunrise, meaning the prayer must be concluded before sunrise starts. Do your best to ensure this happens and ask Allah for forgiveness as a way of expressing adab and your human weakness. Doing so will bring much good into your life.

You do not have to make up the past prayers. There are a number of scholars, such as Imam al-Shafi‘i,  who held that such a prayer is valid. Based on that you can assume the past prayers are fine, but try to ensure your fajr prayer is concluded in a time which none of the Jurists differ on. That is the safest thing for your relationship with Allah.
[Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani 

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.